Cat Mouse Tree

     It's the first Friday in December and a new challenge is starting over at Crazy for Cats.  We are using images from Ike's Art in honor of her memory.  This one is called Catmouse Tree.

     I colored with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with a QuicKutz die.  I inked the edges of the image with a ProMarker.   The background paper is from a stack by Graphic 45.  I used a bit of metallic, glittery, ribbon to tie a double-loop bow with the help of my bow maker.  The sentiment was printed, then cut with an Avery Elle die.

     Challenges:

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this month.  Be sure to use a cat somewhere on your project.  We are going to be giving images from Ike's Art as the prize for this challenge.

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cute "Cubimals"

      Only at Ike's Art could you find cube animals - Cubimals!  Our April challenge is running at Ike's World and, while our theme is always "Anything Goes," we offer an optional theme if you are feeling the need for something to really inspire you.  This month, the optional theme is "Animals/Crazy Critters."

     There are a total of 8 different animals in this set but I used only 3 of them - all felines.  I merged the 3 images with the sentiment (my own), then colored them with my ProMarkers,  I used a large rectangle die (QuicKutz) to cut them and did the corners with a Fiskars punch.  I added a tiny bowtie bow and then layered the image piece onto some Recollections dp, which came from the scrap basket.

     I think it's a fun, masculine card design which will work for a birthday or any other occasion, even Father's Day.

     Challenges:

A Perfect Time ...

Crafts Galore ...

Incy Wincy

Mirtillamente

Morgan's ArtWorld

SheepSki Designs

     You still have time to enter our April challenge at Ike's World and we'd love to see your projects.  :-D  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie

Birthday Roses

      Hello and welcome to my latest DT post for I Love ProMarkers, where our latest challenge starts today.   We are sponsored this time by Ike's Art and our theme is Anything Goes + optional: use die cut or punch.  Ike's provided images for the team to use and I chose "Rose Corner" but I reversed the image top to bottom.  

     I decided on white roses (coloring done with ProMarkers, of course) and framed the image with a die cut (Frantic Stamper die.)  Other than the fancy frame, this is a really CAS birthday card.

     Challenges:

Colour Crazy

Creative Fingers

Digi Choosday

Gem of a Challenge

Outlawz Festive Fri

Polkadoodles

Taylormadecards ...

TTCRD

    Come visit our challenge, see what everyone else on the DT has created, and find some inspiration to play along.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Calico Cats

      This is my second DT card as a GDT at Ike's World and I've used an image called "Stitchy Cats."  I love these darling calico cats!  I merged them together and they just seemed to say "boy" and "girl" so I did them in traditional blue and pink.

    Our theme is always "Anything Goes" but our optional theme this month is a Tic Tac Toes board.  I chose the middle row of  Die cut/ Free/ Pearls.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then used a die from Spellbinders to cut the fancy shape.  I knew I wanted a very CAS design because it would enhance the image as well as the delicate shape of the die cut.  I mounted the image onto pink CS, trimmed it to fit an A2 card, and added a large pearl on each end of the die cut.  Voila', done!

Colors from Bastel-Traum.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Cupcake Inspire ...

Di's Digi Designs

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz PAM

Three Room Studio

We Love Stamping

     Just a quick update to let you know that starting next month, I'll be a regular DT member instead of a GDT at Ike's World and I'm so excited!   Help me celebrate and come play in our challenge this month.  We love being inspired by you.  :-D  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Cat Smiles to Get Well

      It's another new challenge at I Love ProMarkers, the first one of the new year.  Our theme this time is "Get Well" and we are sponsored by Ike's Art.  I adore this cat (my favorite kind of animal), called "Cat Smiles" and you can find it in the section under 'Animals' on her site.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers (of course), then cut the image with a long rectangle die from QuicKutz.  I rounded the corners with a punch from Uchida.  The pink frame and the plaid dp (Lawn Fawn) were cut with dies from Spellbinder.  The sentiment was also cut with a Spellbinders' die but trimmed along the bottom so that it wouldn't hang over the edge.  All the pink CS is from Park Lane.  The butterfly is made by sewing machine embroidery.

     Challenges:

Ally's Angels

Crafter's Cafe

Creations in Pink

Ike's World

Outlawz Stash

Paperbabe

Polkadoodles

Star Stampz

SUYP Cats

 

     Come play with us this fortnight.  We love being inspired by you every bit as much as we like to offer you some inspiration.  Happy Crafting  NanaConnie 

Cat and Mouse Christmas

      Hey, it's time for a new challenge over at I Love ProMarkers!   The theme is pretty simple - "Christmas" - and our sponsor this time is the wonderful Ike's Art.   The image I used is called "Catmouse Tree."  I think it's exactly how my felines would decorate their Christmas tree if they had one, including the garland made of mice!  Instead my cats spend their time 'undecorating' my tree.  :-D

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a square, QuicKutz die.   It's not as large as it looks since the card is only 4" x 4" making the die about 3.25" x 3.25".  I inked the edges of the image with a ProMarker.   The background papers are from a Christmas Animals stack by Recollections.  I used a bit of fiber/twine to tie a simple bow.  The sentiment was printed, fussy cut, matted and fussy cut again.

     Challenges:

ABC Christmas

Paperminutes

Passion for Markers

Penny's Paper Crafty

Simon Says Stamp

SUYP Cats

Word Art Weds

     I hope we're going to see you playing along with us this challenge.  With all the Christmas cards being done, how can you not have something to enter?   It's almost like an anything goes theme.  :-D  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Crouching Cat - Day 4 Cat Lovers Hop

     As I told you on Tuesday, I was invited by Janis to be one of the Guest Designers for the 2021 Cat Lovers Hop.  I jumped at the chance!  If you missed my first GDT post on Tuesday, click this link to get there.  

     I was lucky enough to get to use two adorable cat images from Ike's Art and this is the second of them, called "Crouching Cat."  For more information about the hop (and about the fun images from Ike's), check out the main Cat Lovers post here.

     This is Day 4 of the hop and it runs through this coming Saturday.  You can enter each day and there are tons of prizes from many sponsors plus daily games to play.  You'll meet lots of other cat lovers, all of whom are fun loving and more-or-less obsessed with all things feline.

     Today's card is another rather CAS design (amazing how a bit of dp and a bow can make something look fancy!) and a sweet image from Ike's Art called Crouching Cat.  When I was getting ready to color the image, my sweet little Queenie (see the sidebar for a photo of her attacking the printer) jumped up on the table to "supervise" the creative process and I decided then and there to make this adorable feline a calico!  Yes, she's has white legs and tummy just like Queenie so...

     I cut the image with a QuicKutz die, inked the edges, and layered it onto the background dp (DCWV).  I tied a bowtie bow from black satin ribbon, added it beside the image, and it was done!  Talk about quick and simple.  :-D

     Challenges:

House...Stamps Built

Ike's World

Lil Patch of ...

Outlawz PAM

Penny's Paper-Crafty

Scrapping4Fun

Simon Says Stamp

Stamping Sensations

SUYP Cats

WordArt Weds

     Don't forget that you have until Saturday to enter your own feline creations into this year's Hop.  We're having so much fun and there are fantastic prizes to be won from more than three dozen sponsors.  Come join us before time runs out!  

     Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Meow-lloween !

     This adorable image is a freebie from the SUYP Cats challenge and is by Ike's Art.  I tried to use as many shades of orange as I could as a salute to the color palette option offered by Ike's World.

My card design is based on one of the 

sketches at Sweet Sketch Weds.

Colored with ProMarkers
Cut with Sizzix die
Background "bats" die cut piece was a gift - die unknown
Paper is a scrap from my basket
Hand tied bows 'dyed' with ProMarker

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Creative Inspirations
Creative Knockouts
Ike's World
Paper Funday
Scrappy Land
Word Art Weds.
Work It Weds.

     Have a great day and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Calico Cats

     While I was fur-baby sitting three additional cats last week, my sweet SIL sent me photos of the most precious calico cat which had apparently been abandoned when a family moved away.  She's friendly, healthy, and my SIL has been feeding her on the back patio.  She was hoping that I'd adopt the little calico girl but I'm still debating.  In honor of the possible new feline, I did this card, using an image from Ike's World.  Aren't they precious?  Clearly best friends.      :-D

     These are the easy kind of calico cats - no feeding and no litter box!  lol  

I started with the colors from My Favorite Things.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then cut the image with a die from Spellbinders.  I found two scraps of dp on the desk and cut them with the same die, then offset them behind the image.  I wrapped a strip of satin ribbon around a bit of lace, making it into a bow, and added that.  A really quick and easy design but one which looks much more complex and time consuming because of the frilly die cuts and the fancy lace bow.

     Challenges:

Art Impressions

Cardz TV

Crafty Catz

Creative Fingers

Creative Inspirations

I {heart} ProMarkers

Scrappy Land

SUYP Cats

     For those of you who get a day off for Easter Monday, enjoy the long weekend and take a deep, refreshing breath of that spring air.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Santa's Cats

     At first glance, you might think these cats are waiting for Santa to come down the chimney but they are actually Santa's cats and they worry about him when he's gone on his Christmas Eve travels. They always wait anxiously, watching from the upstairs window for him to return.  Of course, this year they seem to have to contend with a snowstorm!

     This is my second post today and also my third card for the Cat Lovers Hop.  This precious image is from Ike's Art. 

     Colored with ProMarkers and gel pens, then cut with a stitched die from Die-namics.  Sentiment printed and added to the bottom of the image.  Everything mounted onto an embossed card front.  Left CAS to showcase the image and for ease of mailing.

     Challenges:
Crafty Sentiments
Digi Choosday
Lemon Shortbread
Let's Craft and Create
Scribbles Designs
Sunny Day Crafting
SUYP Cats
TTCRD
Try Stampin' on Tues

     Check in tomorrow for another feline fantasy.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Whale of a Birthday

     Welcome to September!  Can you believe that nearly 3/4 of the year is gone already?  Since it's the first of a month, we're starting a new challenge over at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and, as usual, our theme is "Anything Goes with a Critter."  Just feature a creature on your project and it qualifies for entry.

     Ike's Art is sponsoring us this month and she supplied the images all the DT used.  Be sure to check out the 2CCC blog to see all of them.  I chose this magnificent whale and used it for a masculine birthday card. 

     I colored the whale with ProMarkers and water colors, then cut the image with a die from Gina Marie.  I inked the edges with black ink.

     The background is done with papers from a DCWV scrapbook stash, cut to size for the card.  I enhanced the faux stitching around the swirl with white gel ink.  I added the ribbon bow and a few sequins and left it alone.

     The sentiment is inside and it says, "Have a Whale of a Birthday."

     Challenges:
CARDZ TV
Cookie Challenge
Crafty Friends
Double Trouble
Fussy and Fancy Fri
Ike's World
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
Pammie's Inky Pinkies
Pause Dream Enjoy
Polkadoodles

     Enjoy your weekend and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Geraniums

     It dawned on me the other day that I'm living in a house which has no geranium plants anywhere.  To most of you, that's kind of meaningless but I've had geraniums at every house where I've lived since I was a child and my mother raised them.  The two years I spent in Anchorage, AK, I had geraniums in pots which lived indoors all winter and then went crazy in the long hours of summer sunshine.

     I'm going to correct that lapse as soon as possible but in the meantime these geraniums (Ike's Art) will have to hold me over.  :-D

      I colored with ProMarkers and then fussy cut the image.  I printed and added the birthday sentiment across the clay pot, then added the image to the background using dimensional tape. 

     The background is embossed Swiss Dots and I added sparkle to each individual dot.  I tied one of my bowtie bows using my bow maker and added it to the top of the card.  Rather simple in design but it shows off the geraniums, which was my intent all along.

     Challenges:
Cards in Envy
Crafty Addicts
Crafty Cardmakers
Creative Inspirations
Creative Moments
DL.ART
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Ike's World
Incy Wincy
Southern Girls

     Has spring weather hit your part of the Northern hemisphere yet?  If you're down under, are you already longing for the hot weather to be gone and wanting the cool, crisp evenings of fall to arrive?  Wherever you happen to be located, Happy Crafting!  NanaConnie

Goin' for a Ride?

     I remember one of my favorite animals from childhood was a white, toy terrier who had the blackest nose and a black blotch on his otherwise white back.  His name was Buster and more than anything, he loved to ride in cars.

     My dad had his own business building custom furniture and kitchen cabinets so he was able to take Buster with him nearly everywhere he went.  Buster was well known at the local hardware store, at the lumber yard, and even at the fire department which was located 1/2 a block from the hardware store.  All the firemen spoiled him by giving him treats any time they saw him.  Usually, once he had greeted everyone at the hardware store, he made a beeline straight for the fire station.  :-D

     This fun pup, which is the image for the new Progressive Challenge at Ike's Art FB site, reminded me of Buster (although Buster's black blotch was up closer to his shoulder) and that partially accounts for the way I colored this pup.  Based on that coloring, I decided to do a black-and-white, mono card.

     I colored with ProMarkers, then fussy cut the dog.  I layered him onto a black die cut (Spellbinders) which was in my scrap stash.  The background dp came from a DCWV stack called "Midnight Chic."

     I found that black and white ribbon in my stash of Crafty Ribbons stock.  The final touch was the polka dot, bow-tie bow that I tied using my bow maker.  I printed and hand cut the sentiment in honor of Buster who had to go for a  ride at least once every day!  :-D

     Challenges:
Allsorts
Crafty Friends
Creates and Makes
Digi Choosday
Ellibelle's Crafty Weds.
Jo's Scrap Shack
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
Send a Smile 4 Kids
TTCRD

     So glad you came by for a visit today, however brief it might be.  Enjoy a browse around if you have time and Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie

Blue Christmas in July

     A new challenge starts today and it's also my last card as a member of Ike'sworld DT.  I have loved working with Ike and the team but I'm going to be so busy this summer, including travels away from home and even away from the internet, that I simply had to cut some of the DTs on which I serve, and Ike's was one of them.   Can you believe I was on 6 different teams?  Yikes!  For the remaining teams, I'm working madly to pre-schedule posts.

     Anyway, at Ike'sworld this fortnight, we have our usual "Anything Goes" theme but our optional twist is "Blue Christmas (in July)" and you can do anything Christmas if you want to use the twist.  I found this fun and funny "Bah Humbug Bulldog" in Ike's store and decided to do him in non-traditional blues instead of red for his Santa suit and hat.  Don't you just love the expression on his face?

     I used my ProMarkers to color him, then die cut him with a stitched circle die from Die-namics.  The dark blue frame is cut with a die from QuicKutz.  I added dp from an old DCWV Winter stack and found the sparkly snowflake borders in my Christmas stash.  No telling how old those are but they still sparkle brightly even though it doesn't show much in the photo.  They're also 3D so it gives some great dimension to the card.

     Challenges:
12 Months of Christmas
Angie's Digital Stamps
Christmas Cards
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra
Cutie Pie
Dragonfly Dreams
Dream Valley
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
World Wide Open DT

     Please come play along with us.  Remember, it's always "Anything Goes" but you can use the twist if you desire.  You may use any images from any company but if you have Ike's Art images, we'd love to see them!  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Summer Geraniums

     I have to admit that geraniums are one of my favorite flowers to grow.  They're so easy and can be grown from a simple cutting.  Where I live, they grow and blossom nearly year 'round.  I was delighted to be able to use both the "Geranium Pot" and the "Greek Window" images from Ike's Art in our newest Ike's World challenge which begins today.  We have a delightful optional photo inspiration for you.

  Isn't that a gorgeous Greek scene?   I turned it into this:

I based this design on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.

but I made everything more vertical because that better fit

the shapes of my window image and the

embossed brick background pieces.

     I started by printing out one window image and three geranium pot images, two the same size and one slightly smaller.  I colored the geranium pots and the window with my ProMarkers, then fussy cut everything.  It took some time to cut out the geraniums but it was worth it when I stacked them all together on dimensional dots for a fabulous 3D effect.

     Next, I took two scraps of CS, one gray and one deep burgundy, and ran them through my "Brick Wall" embossing folder.  I layered those together for the background, then added the image pieces and the printed sentiment.

     For the final embellishment, I added a hand tied bow with a glittered flower.  The design has lots of dimension but is still fairly simple and will mail easily.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Classic DT Open
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Gals Corner
Inspiration Destination
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

    I hope you're going to come and play along with us this fortnight.  Let your imagination run with whatever inspires you from that photo or just play using the "Anything Goes" theme which is there every time.  Don't forget that Ike always offers a freebie image which you can find on the challenge post and use if you wish.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Giraffe or Not?

     I have a very dear friend who celebrates her birthday at the end of May and she's coming up on 81 this year!  She adores giraffes and I have made a card for her each year with some kind of giraffe on it.

     This year I got to use a couple of darling animals from Ike's Art and I'm using this as my DT card for the new Ike's World challenge which starts today.  While it is always an "Anything Goes" theme, we also give you an optional twist which you can use if you choose.  The optional twist this time is "Happy" - so I thought I'd try to make someone smile.  I know she'll smile over this one.  :-D

     Both of the images came from Ike's "Krazee Kritterz."  It's such a fun set and I only used 2 of the Kritters included in that set.  Check them out by clicking on the name above.

     I used my Promarkers to color the images.   The background paper was made by me with watercolors and a brush on watercolor paper.  I cut the image with a plain rectangle die from Spellbinders and then matted it with black CS.  I added the twine and tied a bow, then added a butterfly which had been die cut from burlap paper (Cheery Lynn die.)

     This has to go in the mail so I kept it fairly simple and as flat as possible.

     Challenges:
Art Impressions
Aud Sentiments
Crafty Creations
Creative Inspirations
Fab 'n' Funky
Inspiration Destination
Kraftin' Kimmie
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Pile It On
Word Art Weds.

     Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Celebrating with Ike's World

     Our next challenge at Ike's World starts today and, as always, our theme is Anything Goes but we have an optional twist of "Fairly Flying" - anything with fairies or anything that flies.   I love this image from Ike's Art, called "Celebrate" !!  Isn't it fabulous how she seems to be 'flying'?  :-D

     I decided on a basic black and white combo with a blast of monochrome gold for this card.  I used my ProMarkers for coloring the image, and cut it with a stitched die from Memory Box.  I framed it in black and gold with dies from a set by QuicKutz.  I do love stitched dies.  I think they are my favorites.  They add such great visual interest and texture.

     I put everything onto a white card front and added the black flowers and black bow.  Pretty CAS but with an eye catching flair.  I'm very pleased with it.

     Challenges:
As You Like It
Aud Sentiments
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Addicts
Creative Inspirations
Cute Card Thurs.
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Pattie's Creations
Scrapy Land
Word Art Weds.

     Come play along with us, won't you?   Wishing you days full of Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

The Rockies

     It's the start of a new challenge at Ike's World and this time we'd like you to do something which really expresses the "YOU" of you - in other words, "Be You."  Remember, we're always an "Anything Goes" challenge and the theme is jut an option you can follow if you choose .

     Nothing is more 'me' than being in nature.  In my younger days, I was most alive when I was camping or backpacking in the woods so this "Rockies" image from Ike's Canada Bundle in her World Tour series is a perfect reflection of that.  The psalm I used for the sentiment is my favorite Bible verse so it's another thing which is definitely "me."

     I colored the image with ProMarkers and white gel pen, die cut it with a rectangle die from Spellbinders, and mounted that onto the piece with the sentiment.  I added it to a layer of torn and distressed CS, wrapped the ribbon and tied the bow, then put it all onto a white card base, leaving the design rather CAS.  Although this is a card perfectly showing "me being me,"  I think it also makes a great masculine card.

     Challenges:
AAA Cards
Addicted to Stamps
Aud Sentiments
Brown Sugar
Colour Crazy Craft
DL.ART
Fussy and Fancy
I {heart} ProMarkers
Outlawz Twisted Thurs
WordArt Weds.

     I hope you're going to come play in our challenge this fortnight and show us what makes you "you."   That's such a broad theme, you'll be able to do almost anything with it.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Spring Planting

     We've had so much rain over the past month that I'm already thinking about spring planting in my garden even though it's much too cold to put in anything in the beds yet.  There's nothing like fresh new plants popping through the garden soil to stimulate creativity.  And those thoughts inspired me to make this card for the latest challenge at Ike's ArtWorld where our theme is "Anything Goes" and there's an optional twist to "Add a Bow."  I used one of Ike's fun images with three flower seed packets.

     I did something a bit different this time; I used watercolors on the image instead of alcohol markers or chalks.  I haven't done any water coloring in several months so it felt good and it was quick.  I distressed the edges of the image after it dried, then added the ribbon and the lace bow.

     A very CAS design this time, and everything is mounted onto a pale green card base.

     Challenges:
A Gem of a Challenge
Crafting from the Heart
Crafty Calendar
Crafty Cardmakers
Creates and Makes
Creative Inspirations
Everybody Art
Inky Chicks
Inspiration Destination
Lemon Shortbread
Outlawz Twisted Thurs.
Power Poppy
Ribbon Girl

     I'll have another post in a few hours so be sure to stop by and see that one.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

New DT Spot with Ike's Art!

     I'm thrilled and excited to announce that I'm going to be working with the DT at Ike's Art!  This is my card for the Ike's World Challenge which starts today with a theme of "Girl Power" and with this theme, we are also honoring all the women who have fought Breast Cancer.  I used "Fashionista."

I based this on the October sketch from Kraftin' Kimmie.

     I colored the image with my Lyra Polychromos pencils, sticking with a color combo of pinks, and doing my best to improve on my shading and highlighting techniques.  I'm learning slowly but shading with pencils is so very different than doing it with alcohol markers!

     I cut the image with one of my Stitched Rectangle dies from Die-namics.  I also pieced together two different bits of dp, then used another, larger, stitched rectangle die on those and used them as the background for the image.  All the other papers and CS were scraps left on my desk from another project (I'll post that project in a few days) and the ribbon was also a scrap left in my stash.  The white bow was the only embellishment this needed.

     I did sentiments which I knew would be encouraging to any cancer survivor.  I remember the cards and prayers I got when I was undergoing my own battle with breast cancer (15 year survivor now!) and how much the love and encouragement meant to me.

     Challenges;
Brown Sugar
Catch the Bug
Cut It Up
Di's Digi Designs
Pencil Case
Scrapper's Delights
Scrapy Land
Southern Girls
Time Out
Unicorn

     I would love to see you playing along in our challenge at Ike's.  No requirement to use one of her images in order to enter but we love seeing them if you have them.  Check out the blog or the FB page.  There are freebies available there.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie